Voice of British Muslim Women

Dr Fariha Khan, London

Everyone has many roles in their life that they try to juggle and hold on to. The word juggle is often spoken in the context of women and to some extent it’s true. As a mother, as a wife, as a sister, as a friend and as a daughter you feel that someone is always needing you or wanting you to solve their issues.

We are all wearing so many hats and just like others, so do I. This is possibly the most frequently asked question of me that how do you manage or juggle being a mother, a doctor and national president of Lajna Imaillah UK.

As Ahmadis we believe in Allah the Almighty and from the bottom of my heart, I believe that it is Allah’s blessing and  He makes it possible. But I also very strongly believe that this is only possible because I am part of this divine community. My faith has given me a purpose in life. My faith has told me how important women are to society. My faith has taught me my rights and responsibilities and hence empowered me. I would be nothing without my faith, my Khalifa and my Jama’at (Ahmadiyya Muslim Community).

I recently had a chance to meet an American lady whose organisation works to promote international religious freedom. She is an educator herself and a great advocate of women’s rights. When I told her that in our Community the first auxiliary organisation that was formed was for women, she was amazed. Lajna Imaillah was the first auxiliary organisation of Jama’at and  was founded in 1922 by our second Khalifa Hazrat Mirza Bashirudin Mahmood Ahmad (may Allah be pleased with him). We take it for granted and perhaps don’t realise the full importance of being part of this great organisation but imagine the visionary behind this great scheme who knew the importance of investing in women’s education and training and also providing them with a platform where they can come together for the betterment of each other and wider society. The seed that was sown in 1922 is a strong deeply rooted tree now and will be 100 years old at the end of this year. This seedling was nurtured and nourished by Khulafa e Ahmadiyyat. (Khulafa is plural of Khalifa) History tells us that. Whenever we look at how the Jama’at flourished under the leadership of Khulafa e Ahmadiyyat we will always see accounts of Lajna Imaillah prospering alongside.

Every Ahmadi girl is part of this wonderful organisation. At the age of 7 as Nasirat, when you start joining small group classes and taking part in competitions, then at the age of 15 you join Lajna and you are a member until your death. But for last 17 years or so I was also fortunate to be part of its organisational team out of which last 4 have been as a president. I have seen first-hand how our beloved Khalifa has given close attention to our organisation. I saw Lajna Imaillah go from strength to strength under our beloved Huzoor, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper). And I witnessed it with my own eyes just like many others did. This ranged from structural organisation and enhancement of the work we do to personal support for each and every Ahmadi girl or woman that needed it.

Whenever a Lajna member was in need I knew who to ask for help, who to take their case to. For dozens if not hundreds I became the conduit, to take their plight or problem to beloved Huzoor and he helped. I am a woman, so I think I understand and have empathy for other women’s pain and suffering but I saw first-hand Huzoor’s pain and anguish for those suffering souls was immeasurably more than mine. I can’t count how many times he told me “be the champion of women’s rights”. Huzoor himself like Khulafa before him, spoke about establishing women’s rights and also reminded men, time and time again, to fulfil those rights towards women. Addressing the Community he recently said “Let it be crystal clear that in no respect is a woman’s status less than that of a man.” I have always found him to be the greatest champion of women’s rights not just in words but more so in actions.

He has always encouraged Ahmadi women to excel in education. I have seen him take pride in telling leaders and world politicians that our girls are more educated than boys. I have always found the balance given in this guidance quite striking.  Unlike the world we live in which teaches us to gain education for our own betterment our Khalifa guides us to gain knowledge and excel in our fields for the betterment of society, humanity and to serve. In today’s self-centred, ‘me first’ culture I find his guidance to be very profound. And His Holiness wants Lajna Imaillah to be at the forefront of serving humanity. Whether it’s fundraising to build wells or hospitals in less well to do countries, tree planting at mass scale to help the environment, or to establish cottage industries in third world countries he has always asked us to aim high and to push ourselves to help others. At the peak of pandemic when PPE crisis hit UK health and care homes, Lajna Imaillah UK immediately set up a team to sew masks, scrubs and gowns. I remember when I sent the initial report with request for prayers to Huzoor I received a beautiful handwritten reply really appreciating our humble efforts and encouraging us to do more in this field.

People write to him from all over the world and despite his extremely busy schedule he takes personal interest in their happy times and difficult times, in their achievements and their losses. From physical illness to mental health crisis, from visa issues to job problems, from marriage decisions to children’s health, essentially from cradle to grave we have someone who is our guide, our mentor, our father and most importantly someone who prays for us. For hundreds of years the Muslim Ummah have cried for this blessing that they lost but Allah bestowed it upon Ahmadi Muslims.

I have countless examples. I don’t think I can ever do justice to this subject. Every time I have walked out of that blessed office on Gressenhall Road or Sheephatch Lane my heart has filled with gratitude to Allah that He gave us Khilafat. This is the rope of Allah which was granted to us, people of the latter days. In good days or bad days, we have to hold on tight to this great blessing of Allah the Almighty. Letting go is not an option.